Resources for Aspiring Architects

What skills do you need to be an architect?

Do you need to be good at Art to be an Architect?

No.  It can be helpful to know how to draw, paint, or sculpt, but it is not necessary.  You will learn the technical skills that you need in college and in your career.

If you have interests that align with Art, then it would be great to take that as an elective in high school. But if your interests lie elsewhere, it is fine to take electives other than Art.

Do you need to be good at Drawing/Drafting to be an Architect?

No.  It can be helpful to know how to draw and draft in the way that Architects draw, but it is not necessary.  You will learn the technical skills that you need in college and in your career.

Some schools offer Drafting programs. There is also the ACE Mentorship program that introduces High School students to Architecture and Engineering concepts.  Both could be helpful in giving you a leg up on learning about these concepts. But if your interests lie elsewhere, it is fine to take electives other than Drafting

Do you need to be good at Math to be an Architect?

Somewhat.  

Architecture Schools are small and admission can be competitive.  Grades and math performance might be a factor in admission.

Most degree programs require that you take Physics and Calculus.  It is definitely easier if you get these credits in high school rather than waiting for college to take them.

Physics and Calculus are not part of the daily job of an Architect.  You do need basic geometry and algebra skills.

What are Some skills that Architects need that are not typically thought about?

Writing:

Architects need to communicate their ideas in multiple ways. Writing is one of the most important ways because clients do not always have the background knowledge to understand drawings.

Architects have to write proposals to get work, submissions for awards, and articles for publications and social media posts.

Public Speaking/Presentation/Acting:

Architects have to present their ideas to clients, engineers, other team members, and at public meetings and Architects must get their audience to believe in their ideas. While it is not necessary for every Architect to speak to a large audience regularly, every Architect will need to talk to team members on a regular basis. So skills in Acting and Public Speaking are a great help.

People Skills/Soft Skills:

Architects work with a team with other Architects and Engineers to design something for the benefit of their client. And then the Architect must work with a General Contractor to get the design built. You will never work alone on any project. So you need to be able to work collaboratively and effectively with other people.

Architects usually lead the Design Team made up of Architects, Landscape Architects, Structural Engineers, and other consultants.  So they have to understand how to work with people of different backgrounds and how to get them to work together.

What are opportunities for students interested in architecture in Central Texas?

Project Pipeline

Project Pipeline uses the city as the classroom, and connects young people to real world architects and planners to foster the next generation of design professionals, civic leaders, and change makers.

The camp will be hosted in person at UTSA, UT Austin, and Texas Southmost College over two days. Students will be divided into small groups and paired with mentors from the professional community and Architecture students from the student chapters of NOMAS at UTSA and UT Austin. The mentors will help guide the students through a series of design exercises ranging from a LEGO build, sketching, and creating a collage. All of this will lead to the students designing and building a model of an improvement for their city.

UTSA - Klesse College Summer Camp

UTSA Klesse College Summer Camp offers several camps including one focused on Architecture and Interior Design for High School age students.

The Summer Career Academy introduces participants to the careers of professional architects and interior designers and clarifies the academic study necessary to achieve that career goal. The program offers a broad yet intensive hands-on career discovery experience and individual introduction to many basic and important aspects of the practices leading to the design of the built environment. Taught by School of Architecture + Planning faculty, the program is geared to those with little or no prior experience with studio practices. Participation in Summer Academy enables you to test whether architecture or interior design is the right career decision and help you prepare and qualify for successful application into university level professional design degree programs.

2025 Youth Summer Art Studios

Summer Art Studios is the most comprehensive and largest summer arts experience for students in San Antonio, offering seven weeks of classes for students ages 7–18. Our artist-teachers focus on fundamentals such as drawing and painting, as well as experimental design and classes that explore world cultures. UTSA Southwest is unique in offering media such as wheel throwing, metalsmithing, photography, and sculpture. Summer Art Studios allows young artists to work with like-minded peers and culminates in a public celebration of their work each week.

DV3x2 Intern Program

DV3x2 is a free one-week summer program in Austin, Texas for high school students that lets students explore AEC careers with short, hands-on visits to multiple architecture, engineering, construction (and beyond) firms. Students can see first-hand what goes on in the design studios, visit construction sites, learn about the education and licensing process, and more.

ACE Mentor Program

The ACE Mentor Program is a nationwide program that introduces high school students in the Austin and San Antonio area to the wide range of career opportunities open to young people in architecture, construction, engineering, and related areas of the building design and construction industry. At weekly meetings, student teams work directly with professionals from leading area firms, who volunteer their time to mentor the teams as they design hypothetical projects, tour local construction sites, and visit architectural, engineering and construction offices.

For students, it’s a unique chance to discover and develop new skills, solidify future goals and get on track to exciting, rewarding careers. In addition, many students form positive relationships with industry professionals who can provide important references for obtaining college admissions, scholarships, internships and full-time employment.